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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Ethiopian nationals injured in South Sudan grenade attack

Three Ethiopian businessmen were on Wednesday severely injured after unknown assailants hurled grenades at their shops in South Sudan's Jonglei state.
The trio is reportedly recovering at Bor Civilian Hospital in Jonglei.
According to reports, the three were attacked while sitting in front of their shop near a local market at night.
Somebody came with a hand grenade and threw it at them
The attack came at a time when foreign businesspeople in Jonglei say they are no feeling longer safe operating in the region.
"Last year three Ugandans and one Kenyan were killed in the market. We were promised that such attacks will not take place again" said Isah Mbalangu, a representative of foreign business people in the region.
Mbalangu represents traders from Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ugandan and Rwanda among others.
"Investigations carried out so far indicate that when the Ethiopians came out from their supermarket, they sat outside chatting.
"Somebody came with a hand grenade and threw it at them, injuring them seriously," said police commissioner, Major General Thukul Ayom.
Ayom promised that no stone would be left unturned in efforts to bring the attackers to justice.
Meanwhile, Bor County commissioner Mamer Ruuk assured the foreign traders that police will be deployed within the market and the surrounding areas to ensure their safety.
"I condemn the incident. We cannot survive in South Sudan without foreigners.
"During the struggle we were getting support from the Ethiopian government and up to now they are still supporting us," Ruuk said.
Such killings have occurred in the past, leading to demonstrations led by foreign nationals living in Africa's newly independent state.